More Jess Liaudin

Biography

When and why did you start training for fighting? I trained in martial arts from eight years old, karate initially and then moving to kickboxing. From age 15 I have been competing in a variety of full-contact competitions to test my training. Since then I have competed in over 80 amateur & professional fights in MMA, Thai/Kickboxing and Japanese Shootboxing.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Achieving a lifelong dream...I first put my application in to fight in the UFC in 1994...must be a huge pile of application forms on Dana's desk, because it took the guys 13 years to work through it and eventually call me up...now that I'm here though, I intend to stick around and do some damage.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I left school at 14 years old.

What was your job before you started fighting? I worked as a Chef at 16 years old, but I have been a full-time fighter for many years now.